Case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the sublingual gland accompanied with extensive dystrophic calcification and intratumoral bone formation

Head Neck. 2015 Nov;37(11):E161-4. doi: 10.1002/hed.24036. Epub 2015 Jul 15.

Abstract

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common salivary gland malignancy. Although the histopathological findings are diverse, no case of salivary MEC accompanied with bone formation has been reported. Herein, we present the first case of MEC with intratumoral bone formation.

Methods and results: A case of a 75-year-old female patient with an asymptomatic mass of the oral floor is presented. Enhanced CT revealed a tumorous mass with radiopaque materials in the oral floor. A pathological diagnosis of MEC was obtained by biopsy. Radical surgery was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The resected specimen was finally diagnosed as MEC. Histopathologically, hyalinization, and dystrophic calcification were conspicuous within the stromal components of the tumor. Interestingly, ectopic bone formation was also found in the tumor tissues. Bony materials with osteocyte-like cells were also observed in a series of dystrophic calcification.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that bony materials are associated with dystrophic calcification.

Keywords: bone formation; calcification; mucoepidermoid carcinoma; salivary gland tumor; sublingual gland.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / pathology*
  • Calcinosis / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / surgery*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Oral Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / diagnostic imaging
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / pathology
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / surgery
  • Salivary Gland Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Salivary Gland Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Salivary Gland Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Sublingual Gland / diagnostic imaging
  • Sublingual Gland / pathology*
  • Sublingual Gland / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome